Class 5A Blog: Milton turns to Sophomore quarterback Ben Halevi

Milton may have found its answer at quarterback while awaiting the return of Derrick Baker. The Eagles turned to sophomore Ben Halevi after trailing 10-7 at halftime against Blessed Trinity, and he responded by leading them to 14 unanswered points in a comeback win over the Titans.

Halevi, a highly touted prospect in the class of 2028, stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds. While a bit undersized, he makes up for it with his polished skill set. In Friday night’s matchup, he showcased impressive ball placement and timing on his throws, along with mobility to extend plays and give his receivers extra time. His half of action was the best stretch by any Milton quarterback this season. Halevi completed 7-of-11 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. By comparison, Baker and Trey Hasan combined for just 289 yards and three touchdowns across the first three-and-a-half games.

The question now is who will start moving forward. With Baker’s injury status still uncertain, Halevi appears to be the quarterback for the foreseeable future. Even if Baker returns later this season, Halevi’s strong performance could create a quarterback competition heading into next year. That may not be a bad thing; Milton won’t feel pressure to rush Baker back before he’s fully ready.

Halevi’s emergence could put the Eagles back into true state title contention and possibly make them the favorite to win Region 7-5A. Gainesville, Roswell, and Lanier will all be challengers, but Milton has not lost a region game since 2017 and has won 39 straight. This week, the Eagles host Chattahoochee, a team they beat 47-0 last season.

Region 7 5A is full of high-end quarterbacks, with Gainesville being led by Clemson commit Kharim Hughley, while Roswell is led by Furman commit Trey Smith. Halevi will need to match their performances for Milton to win the region and to compete in the competitive Class 5A.

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